Glossary (2)

earthenware

Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1000-1200⁰c. The resulting ceramic is non-vitreous and varies in colour from dark red to yellow.

luted

The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.

Location

currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

Publications online

This figure is highly unusual. Its lively, naturalistic pose is well known from glazed lion figures of the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), but material and workmanship of this piece suggest a pre-Tang date.

The lion is shown seated on its haunches, looking upwards, one hind leg raised as if scratching its head. The small head has a naturalistically modelled snout and small ears, the heavy body a deeply incised mane, the front legs have impressive claws, and the tail is ending in three large curls. The animal is resting on a flat, shaped plinth, which is pierced with a hole underneath the hollow figure. The dark grey pottery body is covered with a white dressing and shows traces of a pinkish-red pigment.